The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-10-05
Report Of the Government Commissioners on
the Past Years Work.
The Population Of the Territory and the
Valuation Of Its Property.
The Strength Of the non-kurmon Element
and It's Property Ownership.
Enforcement OF the Edmunds Law andIts
Beneficial Efect-New Election Law
New Power for the Governor.

WASHINGTON, October Sc. L. Godfrey,
A. B. Williams and Arthur l.. Thomas,
constituting q majority of the Utah Com
mission, have filed with the Secretary of
the Interior the annual report of the Com
mission on the affairs of that territory. A
memorandum at the close of the document
states that Commissioners Carlton and
McClernand, dissenting from many of the
views expressed therein, do not sign the
report.
The population of the territory is esti-
mated at 2U0, 900, a gain of nearly go, 900
since 1880. The valuation of the property
assessed in the several counties of the
territory is given as $35, ,665, ,802. The pros
perity of the past seven years, says the re-
port, has been equal to that of any former
period in the history of the territory.
In April, of the present year, the total
Mormon population in the Territories of
Utah, Idaho, Arizona and New Mexico,
and the States of Nevada and Colorado was
162, 3S3, officially classed as follows: Three
first presidents, IL apostles, 65 patriarchs,
444 seventies, 3,723 high priests, II, All
elders, 2,423 priests, 2, ,497 teachers, 6,S40
deacons, 81, 1873 members and 46 $50 chill
dren under eight years of age. The total
church population of Utah was 132, ,297.
The fittings for 1880 were $40, 900. The
strength of the non. Mormon element is es-
timated at 81, 900. This element now owns
of the assessed property of the Territory
nearly one-third, exclusive of railroad
property. The different religious denomi-
nations have now in Utah 62 churches.
These churches have established and con-
troll 81 schools with an aggregate of Cos
pupils and 230 teachers.
Since the passage of the Edmund's law
in 1882, $40 persons have been indicted for
unlawful co-habitation, and 289 of these
were convicted. The number convicted of
polygamy was fourteen. Many of the per-
sons indicted have fed to escape arrest.
In the enforcement of the law, the report
says, the officers OF the Federal courts in
Utah are entitled to special commendation.
The national laws, relating to bigamy and
polygamy, have been in effective operation
for about three years. The Mormon lead
ers and their obedient followers have made
no concession to its supremacy, the issue
is sQuarely maintained between assumed
relations and the law of the land.
The report then cites the already pub
lished results of the election under the
registry law on the first of August last and
of the convention IN June and subsequent
elections participated in by Mormons only,
il which constitution was adopted with
aview to application to congress- for admis.
sion,as State. The commission regards this
mon church from the tolls which the firm
attitude of the government and the ener-
getic course of the Federal officers have
thrown around il, and opposes its con-
sumption. During the past year the
names of 81 men have been reported to
the commission as having entered
into polygamy, The commission
renews its recommendation OF
last year, except such as were enacted into
laws at the last session of Congress. The
commission also recommends that author
ity be conferred upon the Governor Of the
territory to appoint the following county
officers: Selectmen, Clerks, Assessors, Re
corders and Superintendent of district
schools. In conclusion the commission
submits that in its opinion the result:
which have followed from the passage oi
the Edmuds Act have been very beneficial
to the territory. 1t has provided fair
honest and orderly system of elections
and it is universally conceded by Mormon'
and non-Mormons, that there has been NJ
charge, nor even rumor of fraud in con
Dection with the registration of votes anC
the conduct of election since the com
mission first commenced its work.